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San Francisco, CA – California’s pioneer solar company, Sun Light & Power, has successfully completed the installation of a 905kWp solar array atop the new long-term parking garage at San Francisco International Airport.

Sun Light & Power worked with SFO, Nibbi Brothers General Contractors and solar panel manufacturer REC Group whose panels were purchased for the system.

The solar array is one of several at San Francisco Airport which will help the organization move towards a more sustainable future. The purpose of the array is to offset the airport’s carbon footprint and to save the airport money by reducing demand electricity charges during peak usage times.

The greenhouse gas emissions offset by the system equals 915 metric tons of CO2 each year. This is equivalent to the greenhouse gas emissions from 1,000,000 lbs. of coal and is the equivalent of eliminating the emissions from 194 passenger cars.*

Sun Light & Power built a strong team including MLB Energy and Liberty Electric of San Mateo to promote the utilization and participation of local businesses on this San Francisco Airport contract.

Sun Light & Power’s Chief Operating Officer, Troy Tyler, said, “We are happy to help San Francisco International Airport save electricity, create well-paying jobs and reduce the carbon impact of one of the busiest airports in the world. You can see the array from the freeway when you drive by. So, we’ll have a sense of pride when seeing it for many years to come.”

From initial contract signing to substantial completion, the project took 14 months to complete, in parallel with construction of the parking garage.

About Sun Light & Power
For over 40 years, Sun Light & Power has delivered exceptional customer service by designing and building high quality solar thermal and solar power systems across California. Sun Light & Power’s team of employee-owners serve a wide range of commercial, nonprofit, municipal and residential clients. Sun Light & Power is one of the first companies in the state to become incorporated as a Benefit Corporation (known as a B Corp), and it is one of Alameda County’s first Certified Green Businesses. Sun Light & Power became 100% employee owned (ESOP) in 2018. For more information, visit www.SunLightandPower.com.

About REC Group
Founded in Norway in 1996, REC Group is a leading vertically integrated solar energy company. Through integrated manufacturing from silicon to wafers, cells, high-quality panels and extending to solar solutions, REC Group provides the world with a reliable source of clean energy. REC’s renowned product quality is supported by the lowest warranty claims rate in the industry. REC Group is a Bluestar Elkem company with headquarters in Norway and operational headquarters in Singapore. REC Group employs 2,000 people worldwide, producing 1.5 GW of solar panels annually.

The transition supports the company’s belief in its greatest differentiating assets, its people. Gary Gerber, the company’s founder and President, said, “For 42 years, I have proudly owned the company. Now, it’s time to transition ownership to the people who can contribute the most to its success, our employees. Our customers will also benefit greatly from this move because employee-owners are more committed than ever to their success.”

Being 100% employee owned creates many benefits including attracting top talent, growing employee engagement and creating a long term perspective. Giving workers a voice in a company’s governance will create a stronger, mindful company.

The benefits for customers are great, too. A company whose employees have a vested stake in the company’s success understands the importance of delivering value to customers. Employee owners share in the wealth they help generate, and their effort to provide exceptional customer experiences impacts the company’s bottom line.

“Employee Owned companies have a positive impact on employees, customers and their communities,” said Sun Light & Power’s COO, Troy Tyler. “We feel this move to be a democratically-governed company prepares us well for the future. The feedback from employee-owners and customers has been extremely positive.”

About Sun Light & Power
For over 40 years, Sun Light & Power has delivered exceptional customer service by designing and building high quality solar thermal and solar power systems across California. Sun Light & Power’s team of employee-owners serve a wide range of commercial, nonprofit, municipal and residential clients. Sun Light & Power is one of the first companies in the state to become incorporated as a Benefit Corporation (known as a B Corp). Sun Light & Power became 100% employee owned (ESOP) in August 2018. For more information, visit www.SunLightandPower.com.

The move allows Gary Gerber, the company’s founder, president, and a pioneer in the California solar industry, to focus on implementing his vision for the company’s future. Gary will shift his responsibility from overseeing day-to-day operations to driving the company’s strategy to be the top employee-owned solar energy solution provider in California.

“Troy is fabulously qualified for the job as COO of Sun Light & Power. I am very encouraged because we have a similar way of thinking and problem solving, and we have similar attitudes and approaches to running a business,” said Gerber. “He has a deep and extensive knowledge of solar, and a person with his level of experience is not easy to find. I’m very excited he’s here.”

Tyler, 49, brings over 25 years of experience, most recently as the CEO of Smash Solar in Richmond, CA. He previously led SunPower Corporation’s global Technical Training and Performance Management function. While at SunPower, he spearheaded a campaign to implement lean project delivery and founded the technical training team to further reduce cost and increase quality across business units.

“I have been a student of lean construction delivery for many years and I am excited about the opportunity to lead and improve such a well-regarded company,” he said. “It’s not every day one gets the opportunity to take an operation to the next level while enhancing a strong company culture.”

Tyler earned a bachelor’s degree in Architectural Engineering from The University of Texas at Austin. He lives in El Cerrito with his wife and two children. He looks forward to biking to work at Sun Light & Power’s office in Berkeley.

About Sun Light & Power

Founded in 1976, Sun Light & Power is celebrating its 42nd continuous year of designing and building solar systems in California, both solar thermal and electric. Sun Light & Power’s team of engineers, project managers, installers and customer support professionals serve a wide range of commercial, nonprofit, municipal and residential clients. Sun Light & Power is one of the first companies in the state to become a Certified B Corp as well as being the first solar company to be certified as an Alameda County Green Business. For more information, visit www.SunLightandPower.com.

Sun Light & Power (SLP) is currently transitioning to a “BESOPerative” – a B corporation that is also an ESOP with a cooperative governance structure. Read how three Bay Area solar pioneers, including SLP, are in different stages of transferring the ownership of their businesses to their employees.

Join Sun Light & Power and 300 other industry professionals to help educate lawmakers about the importance of solar and storage in California! This is your opportunity to talk with your state representatives about the importance of shifting to renewable energy, creating good paying jobs here in California and helping to mitigate climate change.

Here’s why: In the final weeks of August, the most consequential statewide energy bill in the last decade will be moving through the legislature. Decisions that could shape our industry for years to come are going to be made at the end of this month. It is important for all of us to get a huge turnout at Lobby Day to push back on the utilities’ efforts to undermine the solar industry.

Two Sun Light & Power team members will share their knowledge and expertise at the ongoing 2018 Intersolar North America conference.

President & CEO Gary Gerber will answer questions after the two free showings of the Solar Roots documentary (July 10 at 3pm and July 11 at 12:30pm), while solar thermal system designer and estimator Martin Morehouse will discuss how solar provides clean electricity and hot water for California buildings (July 11 at 4:15pm).

The 2018 Intersolar North America conference takes place July 10-12, 2018 at the Moscone Center West Hall in San Francisco, CA.

GU Energy Labs has partnered with Sun Light & Power to install a solar system that will offset 90% of their total electric bill

BERKELEY, CA, 17 May 2018 – GU Energy Labs, a Berkeley-based family-owned business that produces performance sports nutrition products, recently announced the new photovoltaic (PV) system installed on their 4th Street headquarters. The 206.4 kW roof-mounted PV system, installed by Sun Light & Power (SLP), another East Bay company, is expected to offset 90% of the company’s electric bill for that property. It has an estimated annual production of 325,000 kWh, and consists of 606 SunPower modules, five SolarEdge inverters and 304 SolarEdge power optimizers.

According to Eric Nyman, Director of Sales & Marketing at SLP, the solar system’s energy production is equivalent to reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 242 metric tons per year, which translates to removing 52 cars from the road or recycling 84 tons of waste destined for landfills. “This new PV system is designed to last for at least 30 years, which will help the company become less dependent on the local utility for electricity. We are very happy to have been given this opportunity to partner with another organization that values sustainability and environmental accountability,” he said.

Jessica Carroll, GU’s Sustainability Manager, also stressed the company’s commitment to sustainability and to protecting the environment. “We manufacture all our gels at the Berkeley headquarters and are proud to say that our Energy Gels are now produced with renewable energy,” she said.

Carroll added that choosing Sun Light & Power as their partner was an easy decision. “We admire Sun Light & Power’s commitment to the environment not just in terms of solar projects, but with the commitment to California Green Business and Benefit Corporation standards. They also provided us with a very competitive price.”

“After the installation was complete they continued to collaborate with us in hosting an interactive lunch-and-learn event about renewable energy. We invested in the maintenance plan with Sun Light & Power and are looking forward to a long-term relationship,” she added.

About Sun Light & Power

Founded in 1976, Sun Light & Power is celebrating its 42nd continuous year of designing and building solar systems in California, both solar thermal and electric. Sun Light & Power’s team of engineers, project managers, and installers serves a wide range of commercial, nonprofit, municipal and residential clients. Sun Light & Power is one of the first companies in the state to become a Certified B Corp as well as being the first solar company to be certified as an Alameda County Green Business. For more information, visit www.sunlightandpower.com.

About GU Energy Labs

GU Energy Labs strives to help athletes to reach their highest potential with products that deliver the right nutrients, in the right amounts, at the right time. Developed in collaboration with Olympians and age groupers alike, the GU nutrition matrix of Hydration, Energy and Recovery products has helped countless athletes achieve their dreams since its inception in 1993. Headquartered in Berkeley, GU Energy Labs produces all of its Energy Gels onsite with just the right blend of heart and science. Recommit to becoming your best athletic self, learn more about GU products, and discover how nutrition planning can help you get there at http://www.guenergy.com/.